The Best Neighborhoods in Jacksonville FL

Last Updated:  August 23, 2026

Executive Summary / disclaimer:  "best" is subjective.  When looking for the best neighborhoods in Jacksonville, be careful who you listen to... everyone has an opinion, but it's absolutely subjective...  

Why you should listen to me: 

1. I'm a REALTOR with over 20 years of experience within the Northeast Florida location. 
2. I've lived in 6 different homes in the Jacksonville area including multiple locations within Jacksonville and St Johns county. 
3. I've purchased additional homes that I've renovated and re-sold or rented.   
4. I'm also privy to the information as to how many inquiries we have per location.
5. I have the intel on which locations resell the best. 

ONE BIG TIP:   if you are concerned about resale in the future (and who isn't): choose top school districts!  The list below is my opinion, does not necessarily include top school districts, but does include the top levels of interest for most people.  If you are moving to Jacksonville, please reach out if you'd like to dig deeper into any of these locations or you need additional help in your search.

Best Jacksonville Neighborhoods

Note on the sections below - We've created subsections that may best align with your personal search interest. 

Near downtown:  neighborhoods that are to be considered more "in-town".  Often historic and typically the most walkable communities. 

The Beaches:  is exactly that, neighborhoods located at the beach, and highly desirable. 

The Burbs:  fairly broad and catches a lot of the other communities that are considered best neighborhoods in Jacksonville. 

Honorable Mentions:  A few locations that deserve a note.

Thanks for reading our Best Neighborhoods article!  

Near Downtown / "In-Town":  This section denotes those neighborhoods that are most popular and have the highest demand near downtown.  Often considered some of Jacksonville's most historic and most walkable communities.  Each have their own pros and cons, as most locations do, but the pros far outweigh the very short cons list.  

San Marco

A historic community with a vibrant restaurant, bar, and shopping scene.  Highly walkable, many San Marco residents will walk to dinner and entertainment venues, making the short trek home after a couple cocktails super easy.  Great public schools bordering on top in county, including access to magnet programs and nearby top private schools of Episcopal and Bolles, are also a part of the San Marco neighborhood.  You'll see construction happening throughout in this community including tear downs, renovations, and new builds of single family homes, condos, townhomes, and apartments.  From bungalows to incredible waterfront homes, you'll have great options here. but it's not cheap - as a matter of fact, San Marco lands on one of our most expensive neighborhoods in Jacksonville list.  If you value top schools, a walkable community, rich historic vibe, and the best restaurants - San Marco should be on your list.     

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Avondale

A historic community near downtown and bordered by Riverside and Ortega.  You'll have many restaurants and great watering holes within Avondale and everything will be a short walk or bike ride away.  The walkability is high and the community atmosphere is tight.  There is always homes being renovated throughout the Avondale neighborhood and you can find some real charmers with incredible next-level curb appeal in this walkable district.  We receive a fairly decent number of people starting out in one of these historic areas or deciding to scale down and move into one of these more walkable historic districts and Avondale is always on their list.  

Ortega

Slightly further away from downtown, but still considered one of the more "in-town" communities, the Ortega neighborhood is full of grand waterfront homes, traditional style homes, and sharp historic bungalows.  Most living in Ortega will frequent the food scene of Avondale and Riverside, but Ortegans have several big benefits to their slice of Jax:  the Timuquana Country Club, multiple marinas to store your boat, ramps for your boat, and more affordable waterfront homes.  Known for it's great family neighborhoods, Ortega is one of those communities that not a lot of people move from.  As a matter of fact, many Ortega residents will gladly tell you the last couple homes they've moved from and they are almost always within the community.  That's a great sign of a strong location! 

Riverside

A near downtown historic community, the Riverside neighborhood is probably considered the more "up and coming" of the top historic districts, AKA the more affordable historic community.  The food scene is booming and the atmosphere is eclectic for certain, with entrepreneurial restaurateurs opening up new spots at a pace that seems almost monthly.  The scene is a little less refined than it's more put together Avondale neighbor.  It's hard to determine where Riverside ends and Avondale begins as the lines have blurred due to the amount of homes being renovated in Riverside over recent years.  This trend continues and the popularity of this walkable historic district is no longer a locals only secret.  

Five Points

Known for its wide assortment of unique restaurants, shops, and attractions, Five Points is rich with character and charm that can only be found in this tiny neighborhood situated within Riverside. Five Points serves as the area’s picturesque main street, and it is surrounded by thriving residential communities. One of the neighborhood’s most noteworthy landmarks is The Five Points Theater, (known today as the Sun-ray Cinema) which opened in 1927 and continues to screen films daily. From its beginnings in the 1920s all the way through to present day, Five Points has been one of Jacksonville’s most vibrant urban neighborhoods.

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Springfield

Located just north of Jacksonville’s Downtown district, Springfield is a neighborhood rich with trendy restaurants, breweries, and art. Springfield was established in 1869, making it one of the oldest neighborhoods in all of Jacksonville. Springfield’s historic streets are lined with restored mansions, locally owned small businesses and boutiques, trendy restaurants, and a number of craft breweries. The neighborhood is also home to some of Jacksonville’s oldest parks, which are filled with tall, mature oaks. Springfield hosts a number of annual festivals, like Porchfest and the Springfield Tour of Homes, which draw in large crowds of guests.  Springfield is affordable when you compare what you can get for your money, but with one caveat:  The homes here are historic and their is a historic overlay that help contain that rich history.  

Murray Hill

Nestled between historic Avondale and trendy Riverside is Murray Hill, which is rapidly becoming one of the hippest neighborhoods in all of Jacksonville (and one of the most affordable in-town communities). The neighborhood's rise in popularity comes as a result from unique eateries, craft breweries and local artisans moving in and transforming the area.  In Murray Hill, what was once old is new again, as more and more small businesses, boutiques, bars, and cafes contribute to the neighborhood’s diverse and creative culture. Murray Hill is also home to verdant parks like Four Corners and Murray Hill Park. The neighborhood’s resident artists have contributed many murals to the community, which can easily be spotted on a walk through Murray Hill’s eclectic streets. Murray Hill is certainly a vibe all its own, and it’s one that you certainly won’t want to miss experiencing.

The Beaches:  A LARGE area of Jacksonville, but also one of the most sought after.  The key to the beaches is all about choosing which of the major beach communities you are most at home, and then choosing how close you want to live to the ocean.  It's not quite that simple, but that's the gist.  

Atlantic Beach

Always one of the highest price per square foot locations in Jax, Atlantic Beach is a must-shop if your budget allows.  You'll have access to all good things beachy, including the beach, the restaurants, and the shopping.  Atlantic Beach homes offer the potential to get away from the main touristy sections and live on the beach or within blocks of the beach.  Not to say the tourist aren't aware of Atlantic Beach, but most of the community is more of a neighborhood feel overall.  All beach locations have easy access to golfing and top dining locations.  One of the best surf breaks is here in Atlantic Beach as well as one of Jacksonville's best parks:  Hanna Park.  You'll want a beach cruiser and a spare bedroom for all your family insisting on regular visits. 

Neptune Beach

Neptune Beach is still the beach hidden gem between Atlantic Beach and Jax Beach.  Neptune Beach is predominantly housing with most of the restaurants and shops being in Atlantic or Jax Beach.  It has hit the radar of many of the higher-end house renovators since Atlantic Beach has become more out of reach in affordability, so home renovations are happening as well as tear-downs and new builds.  Less overall housing than the biggies next door, but some great values exist here!  Visit the Neptune Beach neighborhood page.

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Jacksonville Beach

Jacksonville Beach is by far the most affordable of all the beaches along the Jacksonville coastline.  Full of restaurants, shopping, grocery stores, coffee shops, etc. - if you want easy access to all the amenities at semi-affordable prices, Jax beach should be on your list.  It's busier here, and you'll have a vibrant community that grows with the nearly never ending events put on by the city.  You'll have concerts, parades, art walks, fundraisers, competitive races including running and swimming, and even an air show every other year.  Jax Beach is a happening community and the residents are proud of it. 

Ponte Vedra Beach

Ponte Vedra Beach should probably have it's own section.  It is a beach location, but also one of the more predominate "cities" in the Jax metro area.  Technically in St Johns County, Ponte Vedra boasts not only the beach location but also top schools, which makes it one of the most desirable.  PVB houses some of the most desirable golfing communities in the area, including Sawgrass, where The Players Championship is held annually.  Home to some of the highest housing prices in Northeast Florida, Ponte Vedra still offers a few good deals every so often - especially if you are open to renovation.

The Burbs:  Outside of those easy to categorize sections, we have the Burbs.  Some are near town and some are quite a commute, but these main locations are well known communities within Jacksonville.  These locations identified below are also some of Jacksonville's most desired. 

Mandarin

Mandarin is one of the larger neighborhoods on our list but encompasses a well known location full of great schools and great communities.  The Mandarin area, and it is more of an area, has always been considered a top suburb of Jax and has all the requirements:  great schools, shopping, restaurants, and best of all - affordability!  This community has probably some of the most affordable options of all the neighborhoods on our list, but don't let that fool you - Mandarin also has some of the most grand waterfront properties available.  

Nocatee

If you are moving to Jacksonville, the Nocatee community will be on your list as a potential best neighborhood.  Nocatee has been in the news for years and continues to be one of the biggest growth drivers to St Johns county. It is a fully encompassed community with its' own schools and amenities.  Nocatee will have close to 10,000 total houses at some point in the years to come.  It's huge, it has a plethora of activities, and most people who made the move, love living there.  You'll need a golf cart for easy access to drive around the multiple square miles of amenities and water parks within it's master plan layout.  If you want great schools, great amenities, and don't mind being a little further away from town - Nocatee should be on your list.  

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Julington Creek

Just South of Mandarin is the Julington Creek neighborhood.  A St Johns county community, Julington Creek is home to great schools and affordable homes.  One big benefit to Julington Creek over other St Johns locations:  the supporting businesses are already there!  Grocery, dining, medical, etc... all there.  This location is almost always on every relocation list as a possible neighborhood, making resell super easy when / if you are ever ready to move out.  If you would like a large planned community around club facilities and well cared for golf course, then Julington Creek would be recommended.  

County Road 210 / Northeast St Johns

This large area in St Johns County is home to many master planned communities and had to be included as a top neighborhood.  Some of the best "A" rated schools in the overall Jax marketplace are here in north St Johns.  When looking for a home in northeast St Johns, you'll have the options of small affordable neighborhoods, large master-planned communities, golf communities, and upscale gated communities.  There are also new communities being built and this entire area is in a major growth cycle.  In the 20+ years I've lived in Jax - this area continues to be a major player in the top neighborhoods in Jacksonville (albeit in St Johns County). 

Honorable mentions

Okay, a few honorable mentions that didn't make the "best neighborhoods in Jacksonville FL" list.  We like these neighborhoods, but there just isn't room enough at the top for everyone.  Here they are in no particular order:

• Fleming Island:  Large community in Clay County with good schools.  A little far away from Jax, but that's probably better for some!  
• St Nicholas:  A near downtown neighborhood.  Small in overall housing size, but a great location without the premium price tag of other in-town communities.  A must see if you are considering San Marco.
• Intracoastal East:  Large area close to the beach but not really close enough to bike over unless you really want to put in the effort.  Full of neighborhoods and fairly affordable, this is a great "near beach" location... like 10 minute drive.
• Amelia Island:  Great for a vacation home, but not so good for driving into Jax.  It's a bit far and not that easy to get to which is why so many like living on "the island".  Large retirement population so could be ideal if that's your intention.  I myself would consider a 2nd home there in a heartbeat. 
• St Augustine:  Its own place, some do commute to Jax for work, but it's a solid 45+ minutes.  Downtown St Augustine can be touristy but also some really nice areas and some great dining and entertainment venues.